WWLS-FM

History

The station signed on June 28, 1962, as KWHP on 97.7 MHz from Edmond, Oklahoma, with call letters derived from owner William Haydon Payne, who also served as station manager and chief engineer. Its original effective radiated power was 410 watts. The station began in a small house at 1305 South Boulevard Street in Edmond, with the transmitter in the bedroom and the studio in the garage; Payne's wife threatened to leave unless the station moved out of the house.

In 1964, it relocated to Kelly Street. In 1978, the call letters changed to KCFX, reflecting a country format and the mascot 'The Fox.' Payne sold the station in 1979. It later became KKLR and then KTNT.

Porter Davis, whose family owned Davis Foods distributors, bought the station and switched it to Smooth Jazz in 1993 as KTNT '97.7 The Trend.' Citadel Broadcasting purchased the station along with 'SportsRadio 640' WWLS and 'Sports Talk 1340' KEBC in 1998. In February 1999, the station changed call letters to KCYI, moved to 97.9 FM, and became 'The City 97.9,' retaining Smooth Jazz. On January 24, 2000, at noon, KCYI dropped smooth jazz and began stunting with a Microsoft robotic countdown until 6:45 a.m. on January 27, when it flipped to Rhythmic CHR as 'Wild 97dot9,' with the first song being 'Wild Thing' by Tone Lōc.

On October 23, 2006, WWLS (then at 104.9 FM) switched signals with sister station KKWD and moved to the 97.9 frequency. On July 9, 2008, WWLS upgraded to 31,000 watts ERP and moved from 97.9 to 98.1 FM.